But first, the last four teams remaining will take the field at Kean University in Union today in the T of C semifinals.

Second-seeded Don Bosco Prep will meet sixth-seeded Ridgewood at 5 p.m. in a Bergen County battle and fourth-seeded Rutgers Prep will take on top-seeded Ridge in the nightcap at 7:30 in an all-Somerset matchup.

Both higher seeds already have defeated their opponent this season.

Don Bosco Prep has knocked off Ridgewood twice this season, a 13-4 victory on April 20 and an 11-5 triumph on May 9 in the Bergen County Tournament semifinals. But that does not deter Ridgewood, which is riding high after winning six straight games, including beating third-seeded Chatham in the T of C first round.

One of the keys for Ridgewood lately has been jumping to early leads and letting the defense carry the team the rest of the game, with goalie Noah Pounds playing formidably between the pipes. Jason Gibson has been stellar on draws for much of the season and will meet a formidable opponent in Don Bosco's Dan Mazurek. Don Bosco can certainly light up the scoreboard with attackmen such as Brady Wulster, Jack Ray, and Max Allen, and it knows how to play from behind if it finds itself down.

Rutgers Prep, which advanced to the semifinals thanks to a victory over fifth-seeded Mountain Lakes, met Ridge only once this season, in the Somerset County Tournament semifinals, when Ridge came out victorious, 10-4, on May 11. Rutgers Prep has given up more than 10 goals in only two games this season -- the team's only losses.

Rutgers Prep's defense has guided it of late, with goalie Christian Klipstein playing his best lacrosse of the season down the stretch. After a tough first half against Mountain Lakes, the Rutgers Prep defense held the Group 1 champion to just two second-half goals while the offense found the back of the net nine times.

"When our offense plays like that, we can play with any team in the state," said Rutgers Prep defensman Ryan Dennis. "They picked us up in the second half. When they play like that, we're going to beat a lot of teams."

Ridge is the most balanced team remaining, with offensive stars such as J.T. Palladino and Eric Scott leading the way and a solid corps of defenders in front of goalie T.J. Jones. Alec Burckley is one of the best faceoff specialists in the state, and it will be important for Rutgers Prep to try and force turnovers if it loses draws, as it did in the last round.